Although the move will increase power marginally to 240bhp over the current car’s 235bhp 1750 TBi, Alfa says the use of the lightweight aluminium unit will benefit performance and handling.

The current Giulietta Cloverleaf records a 0-62mph time of 6.8sec; the new engine should cut this time to around 6.5sec.

An Alfa Romeo spokesman said the engine and gearbox will be used in their current form. That means the car will feature Alfa’s TCT six-speed semi-automatic gearbox, which uses two dry clutches. He confirmed that no six-speed manual unit will be offered.

Increasing the use of the 4C’s engine and gearbox is seen as an important move to build a closer connection between the £45,000 sports car and its volume sellers.

The Cloverleaf is likely to remain as the range-topper as the firm has no plans to reintroduce the GTA sub-brand to the C-segment in the near future. Such a model would need to be a homologation special, as earlier GTAs were, but there is little appetite to invest in such a niche model or a competition programme.